Classic Northern Historical Circuit

Most visitors to Ethiopia are drawn to the Northern Historical Circuit. The route describes a broad loop from Addis through the cultural heartland of the North. Along the way, it passes a dense concentration of historical, cultural and religious sights to a backdrop of raw mountain scenery. This 15 day sample itinerary is just long enough to take in the best of all the primary sites in the North, and is the minimum time you’d want if planning to travel by road.

Ethiopia plays host to a fascinating and varied history and wears it on its sleeve throughout the North of the country. From the Island monasteries of Bahir Dar to the ancient stelae in Axum, the medieval castles in Gondar and the rock hewn churches of Lalibella the region is over-spilling with UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Lalibella is justifiably the star in the collection with its fascinating churches carved out of the bare rock all concentrated within walking distance of the town. Gondar with its well preserved royal compound and Fasilades Bath was once the Camelot of Africa, whilst Axum brings out the inner Indiana Jones with ancient stelae, countless undiscovered tombs and lays claim to hosting the lost Ark of The Covenant. The region is so much more than a collection of historical sites though. What threads them all together is a series of fascinating stories interwoven with a rich and colourful orthodox Christian religion and incredible natural scenery.

The circuit can be done by vehicle or by internal flights. If you have time then going by road will give you the chance to see much more of the country. However if you are short on time then the internal flights offered by Ethiopian Airlines can be good value and very efficient.

If you are considering Ethiopia in the first place, you are probably aware that the standard of hotels, road and general comfort is not going to match what you might expect at home. Travelling in Ethiopia is always an adventure and it is incredibly important you come with the right mind-set. The challenges are the lack of luxuries (a hot shower in Ethiopia is a rare thing, even in upmarket hotels), the unique cuisine and hassle from hawkers. Having said that it also happens to host one of the most unique cultures in the world with a rich cultural heritage and some of the best trekking in the world. You can’t have everything.

This trip is very much focussed on the historic and cultural sites. If you are active and enjoy trekking then we strongly recommend you consider combining the best of the Northern Circuit with the Simien Mountains. Generally speaking we don’t usually recommend the Simien Mountains unless you are staying for a multi-day trek as it is a long way out of the way.